Trump Administration Sues Maryland Over Alleged Sanctuary Immigration Policies

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the state of Maryland, accusing it of enforcing so-called sanctuary policies that the Trump administration says hinder federal immigration enforcement efforts.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland Northern Division, is part of President Donald Trump's broader campaign to challenge state and local policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The administration argues that such measures interfere with its efforts to carry out mass deportations and strengthen immigration enforcement across the United States.

According to the DOJ, Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche directed the department’s civil division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that either facilitate violations of federal law or obstruct lawful federal operations. The lawsuit reflects that initiative, targeting Maryland's approach to immigration cooperation.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown’s office declined to comment on the legal action.

The Trump administration has frequently used the term "sanctuary jurisdiction" to describe states and municipalities that restrict cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These policies often limit how local law enforcement agencies assist ICE in locating, detaining, or transferring undocumented immigrants.

The sanctuary movement originated in the 1980s, when churches across the United States provided refuge to Central American migrants fleeing civil conflicts and seeking protection from deportation. Today, the term is widely applied to jurisdictions with laws or regulations that reduce collaboration with federal immigration authorities.

ICE, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, has played a central role in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. While President Trump campaigned on reducing illegal immigration, his administration has also introduced stricter legal immigration measures, including higher fees for certain work visa applicants.

Civil rights organizations have criticized the administration’s immigration policies, arguing they violate due process and free speech protections while increasing fears of racial profiling and discrimination against minority communities. The Trump administration maintains that its immigration agenda is necessary to improve public safety, uphold federal law, and protect employment opportunities for U.S. citizens.